Thanks to our friend Scott, we were invited to tour the reconstruction of the main runway at SeaTac airport today.

The Port of Seattle began reconstruction of the center or main runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on May 4 and intends to finish by October 30. The project will include installation of a new LED runway lighting system and an automated electronic Foreign Object Debris (FOD) detection system to provide additional safety on the runway.

This is the first reconstruction of the runway since it was built in 1969. The runway was originally built with 14 inch thick pavement and a 20 year life design. Over the last 20 years, 600+ panels (out of 4000) have been replaced to keep the runway operational. The project will cost approximately $95 million. Upon completion, all three SeaTac runways will have been built or rebuilt in the last seven years. The new runway is designed to last 40 years.

The existing concrete from the runway is being recycled and crushed on site into gravel as the sub-base for the new runway. This is anticipated to be over 300,000 square yards of recycled concrete. Over 200,000 square yards of new concrete will be placed for the new runway.

The new runway will consist of eight inches of crushed rock sub-base, four inches of asphalt, and 18 inches of Portland cement concrete. Over 16,000 feet of new storm drain pipe will be installed.

Lots of debris from the old runway.

And lots of spraying to keep the dust down.

Spraying with a Boeing 747 in the background.

Note crusher on the right.

Construction of the new runway.

Note the thickness of the concrete.

This is the machine for pouring the concrete. It was not operating today.

In June, SeaTac set a new record. 4,000,000 passengers came through the airport. SeaTac will soon be the eighth largest airport in the United States.

Alaska Airlines accounts for more than half the traffic at SeaTac. Alaska consistently has the best on time performance and best customer satisfaction among US airlines.